S&B 22 HORNET 45GR SP 20/1800

Description

The .22 Hornet occupies a narrow but useful space in the varmint hunter’s cartridge selection — enough velocity to reach out to moderate ranges on groundhogs, prairie dogs, and small predators, while producing a report and muzzle blast noticeably milder than the centerfire magnums that have largely overshadowed it. Sellier & Bellot’s 45-grain soft point load is a straightforward, honest option for anyone running a vintage bolt gun or a modern single-shot chambered for this cartridge.

The bullet construction here is worth understanding. The soft point design uses a lead core with a precisely engineered copper-zinc jacket that covers the shank while leaving the tip exposed. That exposed lead initiates expansion on contact, but the jacket controls how quickly that expansion happens, slowing the process enough to preserve weight and drive the bullet through the target rather than fragmenting immediately at the surface. That balance makes it more useful on fur-bearing animals where pelt condition matters, and on small predators where you want consistent penetration rather than a surface burst.

Muzzle velocity is 2,346 feet per second from a 23.5-inch test barrel, generating 550 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. Velocity drops off quickly as the .22 Hornet’s modest ballistic coefficient takes effect, so this is a cartridge best used inside 200 yards for clean, ethical results on small game. Brass cases with Boxer primers mean the cases are worth saving if you reload — the .22 Hornet responds well to careful handloading, and once-fired brass from quality factory ammunition is a reasonable starting point. Packaged 20 rounds to a box.